THE END IN KEEPING WITH THE BEGINNING
[p. 125] THE END IN KEEPING WITH THE BEGINNING
I have selected this passage because it, I hope, will serve as a development of what we were engaged with on the previous occasion.
I desire to show that at the end of the days the divine thought is to bring about what is in keeping with the beginning of the days, that there should be a correspondence between those who are found at the end and those at the beginning; when I speak of the beginning I mean Christ, according to the principle of service which is found in Him: “Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth!”, Isaiah 42: 1. God began with that, and He intends to end with that, and so I selected this passage to seek to develop how God will bring about at the end that which corresponds to what He began with.
I need not remind you that there was no need for development in Christ. What He was as Man He brought into nature in manhood. Natural claims are fully admitted in their place, but when there was any attempt to establish these claims it was at once disallowed, even in His own mother. Indeed, from the outset when Simeon comes into the temple he enunciates this principle. You can only get spiritual thoughts from spiritual men. Simeon came in by the Spirit. It was a very great prospect in Simeon’s soul that he should see the Lord’s Christ, and he had not forgotten it.
In the temple he takes the Child into his arms. Now, beloved friends, I take that to be a sort of picture of those of this dispensation, who have to do with Christ, those who will be priests. This must be by the Spirit, for the flesh profits nothing. So Simeon takes the Child, and he blesses God; he was truly more consecrated at that moment than ever Aaron was, for he had the fulfilment of all the types there in his arms, and he was a worshipper. By the same Spirit he speaks of the Babe and says to Jehovah,
“[p. 126] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ... . for mine eyes have seen thy salvation”. His service was over; the true Servant had come — “Mine elect in whom my soul delighteth”. But Mary and Joseph were there and they marvelled. One can understand how the flesh in them may have suggested ‘This means honour for us’, but there is no honour for the flesh. Joseph is ignored by the man who has the Spirit, and he addresses himself to Mary, not indeed in such terms as modern language uses — ‘Holy Mary, mother of God’ — no, Simeon says, “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also”. This would certainly be in the death of the Lord, and there should be no recognition of the claims of the flesh. When Jesus is there, on the cross, having accomplished everything for the will of God, and Mary is there, He, as the Son of God, directs her to John, “Woman, behold thy son”. He stands alone in all His dignity as Son of God, and so, beloved friends, the flesh is utterly refused when you come to Christ in His manhood. “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God”, Hebrews 10: 7. That was the obedience of a Son, One here to do the will of God.
According to Matthew’s record, He comes to John. I just dwell on this for a moment; John is baptizing. I might remark that he represents the moral features of the last days, one who refuses any moral place. Let us not talk of rivalry or leaders. John was but a voice. Jesus came to John; what an honour for a mere mortal! Mark you; He came to John, He knew him.
Would that we could take into our souls what it is to be with God. No one has any power unless he has been there. John had been there and hence his power. John said, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” Jesus said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness”. The righteous One must have things just right. He was baptized and as He comes up the Holy Spirit comes upon Him — God honouring His servant whom He had chosen. How little we take in what Christ was, in Manhood, for the Father! In the light of it we can well understand why the blood is mentioned [p. 127] so much in the Old Testament. Jesus was God’s only One. He found His all in Him, in this desert of humanity. “He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground”, Isaiah 53: 2. The ground yielded nothing; all lay in what He was in Himself and so, beloved friends, we have this voice saying, “This is My beloved Son”. And the Holy Spirit comes and abides upon Him, so He is now formally and publicly taken account of by God, and anointed for His service, and as anointed He went about. I do not understand a gifted servant being local, a gift is for the assembly. So the Lord went about, He acknowledged no local claim as a Servant, “I must preach ... to other cities”, Luke 4:43, so the servant goes about, but doing good. This is what marked the Lord.
Now I want to show how the end corresponds with this. I do not mean that there can be a Pentecost again. I know that everyone that belongs to Christ will shine presently with Him but it is a great thing to see to it that there are the features of it in these last days.
“His wife has made herself ready”, Revelation 19: 7. She thinks of the Bridegroom and what is suitable to Him — fine linen bright and pure, not merely white, but bright, it shines. The fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints. Although we may have things in the bud there may not be any fruit.
In this chapter in Haggai things were lethargic, people were concerned with their own affairs, and the house of God was neglected.
In Zechariah 1: 20, 21, we get carpenters mentioned, as being employed to overthrow the horns, descriptive of the gentile monarchies that scattered the people of God. The angel, seated on the stone rolled away from the tomb of Jesus, was there as if in gigantic irony, showing that the power of the gentile monarchies was overthrown. God is not going to be diverted from what He began with. He will go on until there is a complete answer to Christ.
Angels are ministering spirits for those who shall be heirs of salvation. Every Christian should be a builder, a constructor. The seed royal is preserved in the hearts of His people and soon will come out.
[p. 128] Recovery takes place very rapidly in Haggai, the people had not wandered far. So there are two messages in one day. Not many of us could stand this. One message a day, or even a week, is often enough for us. The first message calls attention to the work in their souls, verse 12. Ceremonialism is powerless for sanctification. God was against the people, the principle of construction was neglected but the foundation is very important. “Let each see how he builds”, 1 Corinthians 3: 10. But then, are you building at all? You mark the day in which you begin to build, and you get prosperity. I put it to your souls to mark the day. Have you begun? Now he mentioned four trees, as symbols. We are called upon to consider ourselves. Have divine things come to a bud in me? I think of the possibilities of one who desires to build. God waits for the full fruition of the seed in us. Let us take heed not to hinder the development, verse 18. What I expect is the development of these four things, through God’s grace, in His people. The seed is sown, but He wants increase. I can picture one of those Israelites going to his garden and looking for the promise.
The vine is the fruit of the Spirit. As regards exercise you must take account of yourselves, but must look to the Lord, there is no good in ourselves. The vine is for joy. How lovely that a christian through self-judgment can bring joy to the Lord.
The fig tree typifies goodness, divine goodness. Barnabas is spoken of as a good man.
The pomegranate. A type of unity among the people of God. These things God will bring about for His glory. Let brotherly love continue, and increase. In the eye of God it is lovely. Unity precedes testimony.
The olive typifies the Spirit in the way of dignity. The oil makes a man’s face to shine. It is the bringing in of Christ. These things may be in the bud, but in the development we have what answers to Christ and God’s purpose with regard to us. In the second message the mind is turned to Christ. You can only get it among the saints. The Spirit directs our hearts to One who sets His seal upon us.